43-47 Bastion Square – Law Chambers

Downtown Victoria Tour

Bastion Square / Langley Street

43-47 Bastion Square & 1118 Langley Street – Law Chambers

The Law Chambers building at 43-47 Bastion Square and 1118 Langley Street was built in 1901 by architect Francis Rattenbury for F.J. Schofield, who wanted a building in which he could rent office space to lawyers.

Here is a map showing the location of 43-47 Bastion Square:

Here is a Google Street View image of 43-47 Bastion Square as seen from Langley Street:

Additional Information About the Law Chambers, 43-47 Bastion Square

• Assessed Value (July 2020): $4,319,000; Land $3,085,000 Buildings  $1,306,000
• Assessed Value (July 2019): $5,000,000; Land $4,010,000 Buildings  $909,000
• Assessed Value (July 2018): $3,585,000; Land $2,556,000 Buildings  $1,029,000
• Assessed Value (July 2017): $2,779,000; Land $1,686,000 Buildings  $1,093,000
• Assessed Value (July 2016): $2,612,000; Land $1,456,000 Buildings  $1,156,000
• Assessed Value (July 2015): $2,333,000; Land $1,165,000 Buildings  $1,168,000
• Assessed Value (July 2014): $2,329,000; Land $1,139,000 Buildings  $1,190,000

A Brief History of the Law Chambers, 43-47 Bastion Square

The Law Chambers building at 43-47 Bastion Square and 1118 Langley Street was built in 1901 by architect Francis Rattenbury for F.J. Schofield, who wanted a building in which he could rent office space to lawyers.

Several late 19th and early 20th century buildings in this vicinity were originally built as lawyers’ offices or included some space intended for rental as lawyers’ offices. At that time the B.C. Provincial Court was directly across the street at 28-30 Bastion Square so there was a sound business case for developers in building office space immediately adjacent to the B.C. Provincial Court to rent to lawyers and other professions which conducted business in the courts.

Other buildings in this immediate area which were originally built as lawyers’ offices include 50-56 Bastion Square, 69 Bastion Square and Chancery Chambers, 1218 Langley Street.

By the 1950’s this building had been converted to retail use. It is still being used for retail today, with retail space on the main floor and office space on the upper floors.

Here are links to some historic photos of this building:

• BC Archives photo I-02440 – Humber Brothers Furniture, 1951. Photographer: Duncan Macphail
• City of Victoria Archives photo M06994 – circa 1955 as Humber Brothers Furniture Store, 531 Bastion Street.

Here are some other neighbouring buildings which were also connected with the legal profession in the late 19th and early 20th centuries:

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